US HOUSE TAKES REVENGE OF MARCH 1 MOTION BY THE ARMENIAN DRAFT
By Ali H. Aslan

Zaman, Turkey
Sept 16 2005

zaman.com

The US House of Representatives International Relations Committee
endorsed two resolutions recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide.

The committee passed draft 195 with 35 – 11 vote; draft 316 was voted
40 – 7.

Many US representatives taking floor during the draft negotiations
mentioned Turkey’s refusal of the March 1 motion to allow US troops
to open a northern front before the Iraqi war.

Genocide allegations brought to the agenda of the general council
is under the initiative of the House Chair of the Republican Party,
Dennis Hastert.

If Hastert makes his preference on the direction, the drafts will
definitely be adopted in the US Congress; however, Turkish and the
US administrations are like-minded that the adoption of such a draft
will harm relations.

US State Department deputy official responsible for the judicial
issues Matt Reynolds sending a letter to the Committee Chair, Henry
Hyde, announced they stand firm against such a draft.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff submitted the draft entitled,
“Commemoration Decision of the Armenian Genocide between 1915 and 1923”
to the House of Representatives.

Republican Rep. George Radanovich prepared the second draft calling
the US presidents to include the so-called Armenian genocide in
foreign policy.

When a similar draft came to the issue, the committee’s senior
co-chair, Tom Lantos, of the Democrat Party prevailing by his
pro-Turkey attitude five years ago said “yes” for both drafts based
on the refusal of the March 1 motion.

Lantos claimed more US soldiers were lost in Iraq today because the
March 1 motion was not approved in the Turkish Parliament.

Turkey did not consider US interests and did not help US over the
Syrian issue, and did not allow opening the northern front for
the Iraqi war. I support both Armenian drafts under the context,
Lantos added.

Committee Chair Hyde mentioned the dispute between Turkey and US
before the Iraqi war and its bill for the US.

Hyde also voted for the Armenian draft.

Another issue frequently carried to the agenda against Turkey during
the sessions was the trial of renowned Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk.

Participants of the Committee, who approved the drafts, often
referenced the Jewish genocide, the Holocaust, and drew attention to
Germany’s responsibilities over the event.

Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler, who is of the Jewish origin, made one
of the strongest attempts to support Turkey.

Wexler managed to include a statement sent by the Turkish Ambassador
in Washington, Faruk Logoglu, to the records.

Beside the Armenian groups, some ethnic Greek organizations, such as
the American Helen Institute (AHI), called to support the drafts sent
to the Congress leaders.

American-Turkish Council (ATC) Chairman Brent Scowcroft also sending
a letter to the House Chair, Hastert, warned the drafts coming to
the issue will cause a great harm on Turkish-American relations.